legend Roy Keane has warned Erik ten Hag that the Red Devils must get off to a great start this season or risk the situation getting worse.
Earlier in the summer, Ronaldo informed United of his desire to leave Old Trafford for a club playing in the , but his agent Jorge Mendes has been unable to find a club willing to take on the superstar forward.
As a result, he now looks set to stay in Manchester for the upcoming campaign, and despite playing just 45 minutes in , Ronaldo is likely to start United’s opening Premier League fixture against Brighton on Sunday following an injury to Anthony Martial.
Many pundits and former United stars have been divided on whether the club should keep or sell the 37-year-old, and Keane, who played alongside Ronaldo from 2003 to 2005, thinks the opening games of the season will be pivotal.
‘You have to try and keep Ronaldo because he’s a brilliant player, but we don’t know Ronaldo’s behaviour when he’s back in the building,’ Keane told .
‘I don’t think it’s as big of a deal as everyone’s making out. When you’re a manager, trouble comes your way, he [Ten Hag] has to deal with it.
‘I think it can work out well for United. My worry is if he stays and United don’t start great, and he’s resentful to the manager, then it could get ugly.’
United have rather favourable fixtures in August, with Sunday’s home game against Brighton followed by trips to Brentford and Southampton, matches that should all be winnable.
However, there is also the clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford which will be Ten Hag’s first real test as United manager and although Jurgen Klopp’s side will be the favourites, there will be some optimism going into that game after the Red Devils impressive 4-0 victory over the Reds in pre-season.
Keane was also critical of Mendes’ role in the transfer saga, claiming that the agent and indeed Ronaldo should have inserted a release clause in the contract he signed last summer, in the event that his United return did not go to plan.
‘A lot of the issue is Ronaldo not playing in the Champions League for his ego, ‘brand’ or whatever,’ he added.
‘Why did his agent not have if Manchester United didn’t get in the Champions League there’s an option for both parties to have a look at it? If you’ve got this ‘super-agent’ who has got unbelievable contacts and brilliant in terms of negotiations, why doesn’t he have that in Ronaldo’s contract?’
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